Clare Fleetwood makes rare Ryder Cup appearance to support husband amid age-gap scrutiny

Clare Fleetwood, 57, made a rare public appearance to support her husband, Tommy Fleetwood, at the Ryder Cup in New York on Wednesday, after previously staying out of the limelight amid criticism over their 23-year age gap. Clare was seen in the Opening Ceremony at Bethpage Black alongside Shane Lowry’s wife, Wendy Honner, as the European WAGs wore matching white outfits and waved European flags to back their men. Tommy Fleetwood has been in fine form this season and remains a key piece for Team Europe as the biennial competition begins.

The moment underscored a contrast with Fleetwood’s absence at last month’s Tour Championship in Atlanta, when Clare did not travel with him. It later emerged that a health scare for their son from Clare’s previous marriage contributed to the decision; Murray Craig, who is about 17, had spinal surgery and underwent an extended hospital stay. Fleetwood spoke to reporters afterward, noting that his family was able to return home just before he did.

Fleetwood’s relationship with Clare dates to 2015, when they were introduced through his brother. The couple began dating despite a 23-year age difference, a point Clare has addressed publicly in the past. She has explained that she initially turned him down, saying, “We have a 23-year age difference,” and that some fans’ scrutiny weighed on her at the outset. Eventually, she relented and the pair married two years later.

Beyond their romance, Clare has played a direct role in managing Fleetwood’s sporting career. She has described overseeing sponsorships, logistics, public relations, and accounts, noting that her involvement gives her a broad view of both the business and athletic sides of the game. “I know everything on every side – so there’s the sponsorship side, the logistics side, the PR side, the accounts side, everything,” she said, highlighting the demanding dynamic of supporting a top-level professional in golf.

The couple has built a family together, including a son named Frankie, and they have two older children from Clare’s previous relationship. They have lived in the United Arab Emirates since 2022, a base that has supported Fleetwood’s ongoing European Tour commitments and his calendar this season. Fleetwood and Clare’s partnership has often been described as rooted in shared working-class backgrounds and a strong mutual understanding of ambition and practicality.

Fleetwood was introduced to his wife by his brother in 2015, and their relationship quickly evolved from professional to personal. As Ryder Cup week unfolds in New York, Clare’s presence at the ceremony signals a visible but carefully managed public profile for a couple whose dynamic has long attracted attention. With Europe seeking to defend the trophy, Fleetwood’s teammates and supporters—both on the course and in the stands—will be looking to the 37-year-old to lead by example, while Clare continues to support him from the sidelines in a role that blends partnership with a professional sphere.